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Young likely nearing rehab assignment in Arizona

4/29/13: Chris Young laces an RBI single to center field to cut the deficit to 7-6 in the bottom of the eighth inning

By Jane Lee
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MLB.com |

SEATTLE -- A depleted A's club could soon be welcoming back one of its ailing outfielders, as Chris Young is expected to begin a rehab assignment within a few days.

Young, nursing a strained left quad, could potentially be Arizona-bound this weekend should the A's decide he's ready to pick up a handful of at-bats in game action via extended spring camp. That puts Young on track to possibly return to the A's when eligible on Wednesday.

Coco Crisp, meanwhile, doesn't appear to be as close to rejoining the club, though he may not be too far behind, manager Bob Melvin said Friday in Seattle.

"He's maybe a day or so away from running," Melvin said. "Once he starts to recover, based on my experience with him, it can be pretty quick. But no timetable as far as when we expect him back here."

Unlike Young, Crisp could end up skipping a rehab assignment, as he's done in the past, instead jumping right back into the A's lineup when deemed healthy enough to do so. He's also eligible to return from the DL on Wednesday.

"I would say that that's one of the few guys that not only doesn't need it, but doesn't want it -- just wants to get back in there," Melvin said. "Our tendency is to get him back as soon as possible."

Oakland's third injured outfielder, Josh Reddick, is back in the Bay Area receiving treatment on his sprained right wrist and avoiding most baseball activity for the time being.

Jane Lee is a reporter for MLB.com. Read her blog, Major Lee-ague, and follow her on Twitter @JaneMLB. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.